NEWCOMER PROFILES
Samantha Murphy Senior Perth, Ontario St. John Catholic Distance Personal Bests 800 Meters - 2:02.10, NCAA Championships, Eugene, Ore., 6/7/13 1,500 Meters - 4:23.12, Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, 3/320/13
Before Oregon: Two-time all-American at 800 meters for Illinois. As a junior, earned all-America honors after finishing fifth in the 800 meter at the 2013 NCAA Championships, setting a school record with a time of 2:02.10. Was also the 2013 Big Ten champion in the 800 and part of the winning 4x400 meter relay team. Part of school record setting sprint medley relay squad at Drake Relays (3:45.75). Helped the Illini capture the first annual Hy-Vee Cup at Drake Relays. Ran her first 1,500 meters race at Texas Relays, crossing the line with a time of 4:23.12 which was the eighth fastest time in Illinois history. During the 2013 indoor season, earned her first all-America honor after finishing fourth in the 800 at the NCAA Championships. Set the Illinois school record in the 800 final at the NCAA Championships (2:03.95). Part of the Big Ten Championship team, the first team crown since 1996 season. Set the school record in the 600 in the prelims at the Big Ten Championships with a leading time of 1:28.87. Also a letterwinner for the Illini in 2011 and 2012. Prep: Was the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) 800 meter champion as a senior in 2010 for St. John Catholic High School. Placed fifth in the 400m at the OFSAA Track and Field Championship. Posted a personal-best time of 2:08.37 in the 800m. Was team MVP for basketball, track and field and cross country. Illinois Bests: Outdoors - 800 Meters - 2:02.10, 2013; 1,500 Meters - 4:23.12, 2013. Indoors - 600 Meters - 1:28.87, 2013; 800 Meters - 2:03.95, 2013. Personal: Major is human physiology.
Mel Newberry Before Oregon: Newberry was a two-time NCAA East Preliminary Rounds qualifier for Princeton in the 3,000 meter steeplechase...two-time Ivy League scorer in the event with a personal best time of 10:18.66…ran in the NCAA cross country regional meet for the Tigers. Personal: Major is curriculum and teaching.
Redshirt Senior London, England Wycome Academy (Princeton) Steeplechase Personal Bests Steeplechase – 10:18.66 (2013) 10,000 Meters – 37:12.18 (2011) 3,000 Meters – 9:34.33 (2013) 5,000 Meters – 16:35.23 (2010)
Kelly O’Neill 2013-14: Cross Country -Posted a time of 19:05 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational as an unattached runner (5,000 meters).
Freshman Lake Oswego, Ore. Lakeridge High School Middle Distance Personal Bests 1,500 Meters - 4:37.09
Prep: Middle distance runner who scored at the Oregon state meet in both the 800 and 1,500 meters for Lakeridge High School. As both a senior in 2013 and a junior in 2012, was fifth in the 800 and eighth in the 1,500. Ran a personal best 4:37.09 1,500 meters at the 2013 Three Rivers League championships. Overall was a 10-time scorer for Lakeridge in track and field. Also placed fifth at the 2011 state cross country meet as a junior and 10th as a sophomore in 2010. High School Bests: 1,500 Meters - 4:37.09, 2013. Personal: Major is biology.
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